River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-11-03
RIDING a PlCK-A-PACK.


ow the Little Ones of Many Animal
Are Carried by Their PARENT.
Among our Indian tribes we invari
bly, see the pappoose swung TO thu
lother's back or carried in the way
allied pick-a-pack. aud it is curious Il
ote how many of the lower animals
'ansport their little ones in the sam'
ay. oftentimes when it requires NJ
tile effort on the part of the parent
me of the most interesting animals
ave ever seen was large Soutl
.merican ant-eater; the long-nOsed
ushy-tailed fellow which walks upor
lie side of its feet. SO long are its
avs, whose scientific name is myrme
ophaga jubaia. II stood upright,
eering at me with its small bead-likC
yes. its grea tail completely cover
~ its back like an um Drella. and as
atched the curious creature | became
ware of another pair of eyes and an.
Their long nose just above the head
{ the large one, and it soor
awned upon me that the ant
lter had little one, and that it wa:
erched upon the mothers back
ompletely concealed by the long
ushy tail that was spread over it like
canopy. And this was the way the
ably. and sometimes two. was carried
bout. The great tail serves n double
urpose: it not only covers and hide:
lie young when upon the mother
ack, but it protects the ant-eater her.
IF, giving her the appearance of
rcat bush.
While the ant-eater is 4 slow-going,
lumsy beast. it is an enemy TO b.
readed Mt close quarters, the long.
larp claws being terrible weapons.
ave been informed that on one Occa-
on 4 native saw an ant-eater carry
~ its young pick-a-pack, as have
escribed, and thinking to secure il
9r dinner. as the little fellows arc
onsidered great delicacies, he APP,
reached and attacked it with his
pear. when without warning the ami
Ial sIrang at him, the babies rolling
# as she struck the unfortunate
IAN so powerful a blow
18th her claws that he was instantly
illed. The claws of the ant-eateI
re its only weapon, being long, SHARP
nd powerful. to enable it to tear open
lie great ant-hills. Its mouth is ex'
remely small. and at the end Of long
ointed snout. while the tongue is of
emarkable length and perfectly adapt
d for the work it has to perform.
In South America another animal,
he sloth, carries its young in the Same
hammer. The brown bear of ASIA
arries its young pick-a-pack. and
then walking along sedately bearing
he cubs. one or two. upon its back, il
resents a very curious appearance.
n equatorial Africa hunters often see
Dung animals in curious positions.
Once when a party had crept up to
lake in the hope of finding herd Of
Elephants, they saw instead. some
wenty or thirty feet from the shore. Z
arge baby hippopotamus that seemed
o be actually standing on the water.
IS huge clumsy feet resting upon
4. The hunters supposed
hat it was on a sand
ar, but as it soon began to move away
Without any motion of the feet it be.
anne evident that the thousand-pOund
Iaby was upon its mothers back. Il
use gradually higher and higher, and
5 the old one moved up the bank i
ras seen to be standing on her broad
Jack. Icing carried up and down
tream in this way.
Among our own comparatively IA
niliar animals we find most inter
sting example of pick-a-paek riding.
The common opOssum of the South,
he only pouched animal of this coun-
~. first carries its young in n pouch
nut when they are well grown and
.apable of running about they take
heir places upon her back and cling
here. sometimes six or seven, present.
NJ a very animated appearance, their
little black ewes glistening and the lit
lie ears erect. The little opossums
ave p sculiar way of holding on. in
his having an advantage over al
most all other animals. Their tails
ire what is called prehensile, OF have
he faculty of clinging to any object
ike the tail Of the so-called ring-tailed
so when they leap upon the
Mothers back they clasp their tai
about hers and so retain their hold
he mother bending her tail over
Ter back so that all may have q
lecure grasp. and in this way the fam
" travels about among the tree-top;
n search Of food.
Nearly all the monkeys carry their
Toung in their arms. and they are often
seen astride of the neck. peering over
he mothers shoulder in a comical
way. The whale will often support
ler young on her back. and remem-
Der an instance where California
whale and calf were followed in shore,
he latter, wounded by the whalers. wa:
about and sinking ulti.
natelv to be drowned. when the devoted
rushed to the rescue. and placing
herself under the enormous baby lifted
il mp near the surface so that it resteC
upon her back. and actually endeav.
bred to carry it of in this position,
falling n victim to the bomb Of the
while attempting the rescue.
The sea otter. that is found in tn,
same waters. is also noted for the car,
fits young. the little ones being carried
about in every conceivable position.
They are often found in the great kelI
beds that lie between the breakers AM
the shore in some parts of the Pacific
coast The gigantic weed breaks the
force of the waves. and forms a partia
resiing-plaee. Here the offers Al,
often seen lying upon their backs O
swimming about. bearing their lttl'
ones. and sometimes tossing them in',
the air Just rs human mothers tOs
their babies to hear their shouts O
The dugong. with its grotesque. al
most human face. supports its Young
..,-.,.. - fs.,.. - onI fftfS nrar,t-rsr,r -.